As the episode opens, Justine Pearce (Ella Lily Hyland) gets her wrists wrapped for the French Open semi-finals. Justine is set to take on Cecile Bisset who is the favorite to win. The crowd chants her name as Glenn Lapthorn (Aidan Turner) gives her a pep talk. Feeling she is not listening, he jerks her water bottle out of her hand and slams it on the floor. He demands she tell him that she will beat Cecile. Hyped, she threatens to burn through her before trying to kiss him. He reminds her of their recent talk when a man announces her father, Christy Pearce (Steffan Rhodri) is asking to see her before the game starts. Steve O’Callaghan (Tom Varey) promises her a baguette if she beats Cecile. She turns to look at Glenn one last time.
Justine looks up in the stands as Khalida Lapthorn (Manon Azem) greets Glenn with a kiss. Each swing and hit causes her wrist pain until she loses grip on her tennis racket. Cecile shows frustration by tossing her tennis racket on the ground. Upon defeating her opponent, she collapses to the ground in severe pain.
Five Years Later – Renee Okoye (Harmony Rose Bremner) tells Justine that she has to leave. Pouty, Justine reminds her that she promised to stay out with her tonight. Renee informs her of Glenn’s win while trying to downplay it. In awe, Justine assures her that she is okay with it before returning to the club. The next morning, she wakes up in Rushikesh “Rusty” Raj’s (Amar Chadha-Patel) apartment. Carol Pearce (Elizabeth Berrington) asks her if she watched Gianluca Barzaghi (Lorenzo Richelmy) win the French Open. Justin asks why when he ditched her. She watches Glenn’s short interview. On the toilet, she notices her framed “Top Tennis” poster. She scolds her mother for hanging it in the restroom before crashing it into the closet.
Justine is updated on the “Silver Star” gala. Minutes later, she is treating Rushikesh “Rusty” Raj’s (Amar Chadha-Patel) injury. He stresses the importance of his being healthy for the impending. Grand Slam. She warns that manipulating a locked joint is futile while the muscles are tight. He sarcastically suggests their “little chat” costs €90 an hour. While explaining her theory on women fanaticizing about rape, she manipulates his joint. Impressed, he asks if she learned the technique in school. After the session, she encounters Glenn and Andi Woodward (Anna Chancellor). Andi says Glenn is in Longwood to stay. Stunned, Justine rushes outside with Glenn in tow. He assures her that he does not want it to be awkward. She says he is more concerned for himself than her. He accuses her of thinking he left with another player after her injury. Their discussion goes nowhere. During a cryotherapy session, Justine has flashbacks of Glenn and her injury.
Two Days Later – Glenn’s attorney (Seeta Indrani) begins the questioning by announcing Glenn has agreed to fully cooperate but refutes the allegations. DCI Shaw (Sarah Durham) asks if he has seen Justine since his return to Britain. He confesses to a brief encounter. She asks if he threatened her. He denies the allegations. She points out Justine has not taken her allegations public. He assures their relationship was nothing more than a coach and player.
Justine admits to feeling betrayed by Steve because he failed to warn her about Glenn. He reminds her that she dropped out of rehab. She tells him that it is more than tennis. After saying their relationship went further than it should have, he suggests not attending the gala.
While brushing her teeth, Justine finds Neil’s watch on the toilet. Later, Renee assures her it was coincidental before reminding her of their breakup. Justine questions how many breakups it will take for them to stop having sex. Renee informs her of Glenn’s return. Justine admits to seeing him earlier before pointing out his gray hair.
Glenn tells Shaw that his relationship with Justine was “powerful” and a friendship. He denies any sex was involved. Shaw describes Justine’s version of what happened as fictional. She asks what Justine would gain from inventing such a story. He suggests it helps her deal with everything she lost after being an exciting tennis star.
Glenn speaks with the Silver Star tennis players before the gala. Justine agrees to cover for Steve while he is away. He informs Andi that Justine will not make the gala. She confesses to being relieved because Justine is “unpredictable.” Justine watches as Glenn joins Khalida and their children in a vehicle. She follows them out of the parking lot.
Glenn claims Justine followed him and his family to a local garden center. Shaw asks if he confronted her or filed a police report. In a flashback, she can be seen spying on them from behind a roll of plants. Back to the present, he says her feelings for him were conflicted and she felt he betrayed her when he achieved their dream through another player. Shaw asks if he shares Justine’s feelings. He describes her career-ending injury as a “tragedy.” She questions if it would have been possible for Justine to continue her tennis career. Reminding her of Justine only being 17, he says she could not deal with the pain and press. In a flashback, Glenn spots Justine watching him and his family. Back to the present, he confesses to feeling guilty about leaving her. Shaw asks if he can imagine what was going through Justine’s mind. He suggests anger and jealousy contributed to her “hurtful and hurtful allegations.”
In a flashback, Justine tells Renee about following Glenn to the garden center. She admits to feeling he has the perfect life but they both lost. Renee asks if that makes her feel better. Justine informs her that she has bailed out of the gala. When Renee suggests letting someone get to know her, she assures her that it would not be a good idea.
Justine and Mikki Easton (Jess Darrow) have a drink after months of texting. Mikki admits wanting their first date to be memorable when she notices Justine’s surgical scar on her wrist. Justine claims to have suffered the injury while saving a man during a collision. Mikki tells her that she knows her true identity. She claims there are rumors of Glenn having an affair which is why he moved back to Longwood. Calling the rumors “bulls**t,” Justine assures her that Glenn would never leave his children. Mikki asks why she cares so much when Justine leaves for the gala. Khalida rushes over to greet her. Glenn is speaking with the exchange students when Justine confronts him about the affair rumors. Pulling her away, Renee reminds her that Glenn has a family and Luca. When Justine pulls away, she reminds her of their being the first scholarship kids and how no one took them seriously. She says they proved themselves, including tonight.
Andi voices concern about Justine’s behavior with the investors present. He assures her that he can handle her. She reminds her of Luca’s exhibition on the tennis court. Justine is speaking with Carl when Steven approaches. She tells him that it is difficult to be around Glenn. He promises to have her back while leading her to the exhibition. Glenn is none too happy to see Luca smoking. Luca complains that Longwood is “minor league” unlike Silver Star. Glenn says he supported his return to Longwood. Luca says no more before urging him to move to Orlando where he lives. Glenn tells him they are due on the court for the exhibition match. Luca refuses to sign a deal that will mess up his career. Glenn approaches Andi during the introduction to inform her of Luca’s departure. She introduces the reunification of Glenn and Justine. The coach and former player hit the court. The match continues until she collapses on the ground in pain.
As he assesses her wrist, he apologizes for putting her in such a predicament. Noticing his watch, she recalls finding it on the toilet in her and Renee’s flat. She demands he not touch her before fleeing. Renee and Steve are unable to console her.
Back to the present, Glenn tells Shaw that Justine’s injury did not properly heal. She asks if he offended Justine to make her run away. In a flashback, she arrives at the police department to report reporting the sexual assault.
A flashback shows Justine and Glenn’s first meeting. Back to the questioning, Glenn says, “Justine is taking revenge against her life.” He tells Shaw that Renee and Carol will confirm his claims.
In an interview, Steve describes Justine as “smart” and “brave.” He claims she loved Glenn and wanted something to happen between them. DI Maplin (Matt Barkley) asks what he observed about their relationship. Steve says she made advances toward Glenn before calling her sexual allegations against Glenn “delusions.” The episode ends.
Fifteen-Love Cast
- Christy Pearce (Stefan Rhodri)
- Carol Pearce (Elizabeth Berrington)
- Justine Pearce (Ella Lily Hyland)
- Glenn Lapthorn (Aidan Turner)
- Khalida Lapthorn (Manon Azem)
- Renee Okoye (Harmony Rose Bremner)
- Steve O’Callaghan (Tom Varey)
- Andi Woodward (Anna Chancellor)
- DCI Shaw (Sarah Durham)
- DI Maplin (Matt Barkley)
- Gianluca “Luca” Barzaghi (Lorenzo Richelmy)
Fifteen-Love Synopsis
Justine Pearce is one of several aspiring tennis players chosen for a “Silver Star” scholarship. Glenn Lapthorn pushes her career to the French Open semi-finals. A serious wrist injury removed her from the French Open. After extreme pressure from the media and severe pain, she chooses to end her tennis career. Glenn moves away to coach Gianluca Barzaghi. Their relationship allegedly moves from professional to personal after he sexually assaults her.
Working as a physiotherapist, Justine learns of Glenn’s return when he shows up for an impending Silver Star gala. Her friend and roommate, Renee was also a Silver Star player. Justine discovers a man’s watch in their bathroom. Assuming it is Renee’s ex-boyfriend, she returns it to her. During a date, Mikki informs Justine of rumors that claim Glenn was planning to leave Khalida for another woman living in Longwood.
Luca and Glen are due to take part in an exhibition. Luca believes doing so would be harmful to his career. After he backs out, Andi chooses Justine as his replacement. Reluctantly accepting the challenge, Justine plays until she collapses on the ground in pain. Glenn is assessing her wrist when she notices the watch from the bathroom. Feeling betrayed by Glenn and Renee, she files a police report, alleging he sexually assaulted her at the age of 16.
Fifteen-Love Review
The series begins with a bang and ends with a bang, everything in between is filler. Too much information is crammed into the final minutes of the episode. Would have been more effective to sprinkle it in throughout the episode.
Instead of relating to the past as a whole, the story constantly switches from present to flashback. While this layout typically works, it creates a bit of confusion.
The scene in which Justine discusses female “rape fantasies” with a client, Rusty is unprofessional and cringeworthy. Just one example of unnecessary filler.
Much of the story is cliché and unoriginal. What viewers will see hear, they will have seen before. The cinematography is excellent. Aidan Turner is superb as always.
The episode deserves a 6. Get more Fifteen-Love recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating to our site. Our onsite advertising builds brand awareness, click the link to learn more.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
